The Kimberley Indonesia Project
An initiative of the Australia Indonesia Institute, The Kimberley Indonesia Project fostered collaboration between Kimberley Aboriginal musicians and Indonesian music practitioners and academics. The program built a foundation for long-term cultural exchange between Indonesian and northern Australian artists.
Through joint performances, workshops, and exchanges, The Kimberley Indonesia Project strengthened cross-cultural understanding and supported the development of enduring artistic relationships. This project continues to inspire new works and deepen creative partnerships across regions.
Project History
Phase One
20 – 27 November 2018
Phase One brought Indonesian ethnomusicologist and composer Nyak Ina Raseuki (Ubiet) to Broome with Tura Artistic Director Tos Mahoney. Together they connected with communities across the Dampier Peninsula, developing collaborations with local artists and organisations.
Supported by the Australia Indonesia Institute, this phase laid the groundwork for sustained artistic exchange between Indonesian and northern Australian musicians.
Ubiet worked closely with Broome-based artists including Stephen, Bart, and Naomi Pigram, as well as Baamba Albert and others. Reflecting on the collaboration, she described it as “a wonderful opportunity for cross-cultural sharing of knowledge and understanding, leading to exciting new creative processes and outcomes.”
During her stay, Ubiet performed with Tos Mahoney and the Pigram family at Pigram’s Live – Raindancin’ during the Broome Convention Centre program, and joined emerging artists at Mango Jammin’ hosted by Goolarri Media.
Phase Two
17 – 27 August 2019
The next phase extended the collaboration to Indonesia, where Stephen Pigram, Mick Manolis, and Mark Atkins joined Ubiet and Indonesian instrumentalists Shafur Bachtiar and Dimawan Krisnowo Adji. Intensive workshops and performances took place in Yogyakarta and Jakarta, exploring shared musical traditions and creative exchange.
This stage deepened the artistic connection discovered in Broome, revealing strong cultural links between Indonesian and Kimberley music practices.
The Yogyakarta residency concluded with a presentation at the Tembi Art Centre, followed by a performance at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, showcasing the collective outcomes of this growing partnership.
The Kimberley Indonesia Project was supported by the Australian Government through the Australia-Indonesia Institute of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Nyak Ina Raseuki (Ubiet)
Nyak Ina Raseuki, known as Ubiet, is an Indonesian composer and performer whose passion for vocal music began in her teens as a lead singer in popular music groups in Aceh and Jakarta. She studied voice at the Jakarta Institute of the Arts (IKJ) and holds a Master of Music and Ph.D. in ethnomusicology from the University of Wisconsin. A national and international performer, Ubiet now lectures at IKJ's Graduate School. Her focus on vocal ornamentation led her to collaborate with composer Tony Prabowo and Minang musicians to form the contemporary music group The New Jakarta Ensemble.
Dimawan Krisnowo Adji
Dimawan was born in Yogyakarta in 1970. From 1986-1990 he studied cello at the High School for Music in Yogyakarta and continued to the Indonesian Arts Institute of Yogyakarta. Dimawan is one of the founders of Sa’Unine String Orchestra of Yogyakarta. He has played for Twilite Orchestra from 1993-2002, and Nusantara Chamber Orchestra, Orkes Simfoni Jakarta as Principal Cellist.
In the past years, Dimawan has been interested in Indonesian archipelago music blending with his cello, and has collaborated with many artists across a multitude of artforms. In 2007 he joined Kroncong Tenggara to perform in Australia, Germany, Singapore as well as in Indonesia and worked with choreographers as a composer for dance inlcuding SALT, choreographed by Eko Supriyanto performed in Indonesia, Belgium, Germany, and Australia. Dimawan is currently collaborating with Ubiet on ‘Nyanyi Nusa-Nusa’ interpreting song of the Eastern of Indonesia.
Shafur Bachtiar
Shafur Bachtiar is a traditional musician from Penyengat Island, Riau Province in South Sumatra. A specialist in the Malay gendang (frame drum), Bachtiar is a graduate of the Indonesian Art Institute, Yogyakarta, majoring in ethnomusicology. Bachtiar is a skilled percussionist, playing the Burano and Darbuka amongst others. He has been engaged in a number of collaborations, recordings and performances and is a member of UDISHA TRIO with members Nyak Ina 'Ubiet' Raseuki and Dimawan Krisnowo Adji.
Stephen Pigram
Stephen Pigram is a renowned Indigenous musician from the pearling town of Broome, Western Australia. As a singer/songwriter he has been central to the continuation and development of Broome Creole music – the unique music style that draws on both the traditional Aboriginal music of Broome and the Dampier Peninsula and the many international cultures that have been a part of Broome culture.
As the quintessential musician Stephen performs vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica, ukulele and dulcimer with his idiosyncratic and poetic lyrics reflecting Kimberley life, culture and politics.
Stephen and his brothers are part of the well-known folk/rock septet The Pigram Brothers. Stephen and his brother Alan Pigram were the first indigenous artists to be inducted into the West Australian Music Industry’s Hall of Fame.
Mark Atkins
Acknowledged as one of Australia’s finest didjeridu players, Mark Atkins is also recognised internationally for his collaborative projects with some of the world’s leading composers and musicians. A descendant of Western Australia’s Yamitji people, as well as of Irish/Australian heritage, Mark is known not only for his masterly playing, but also as a storyteller, composer, percussionist, visual artist and instrument maker. Mark has performed alongside and composed with artists such as Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, Sinead O’Connor, Philip Glass, Donald Lunney, Ornette Coleman, Peter Sculthorpe, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Gondwana, Jenny Morris, John Williamson, James Morrison, and the Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO). He is a founding member of Black Arm Band.
Mick Manolis
Born in a sleepy pearling town of Broome known today as Rubibi by the original Yawuru inhabitants, Michael was born as Michael Manolis to a Greek father and Yawuru Filipino mother. Michael is a speaker of the Yawuru language and works with Nyamba Buru Yawuru, the native title holders in and around the Broome township, restoring Yawuru language for future generations.
Michael learnt guitar at the age of 14 when he attended the Christian Brothers College in the south west town of Albany, learning from the other Aboriginal boys who he boarded with. Michael went on to form the Broome band Kuckles in 1980 with Jimmy Chi, Garry Gower, Patrick Bin Amat and Stephen Pigram. Michael along with Jimmy Chi and his band members created the musical play “Bran Nue Dae” which has performed in every major Australian city and also the Cook islands for the 1994 Pacific islander festival.
